• The best electric kettle is the Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfectTemp Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle. The Cuisinart kettle includes a durable and heavy stainless steel carafe and base, non-slip handle, and concealed heating element. It features six preset variable temperatures, a removable scale filter, and easy-to-use back-lit control buttons, as well as a host of other features, including boil-dry protection, internal memory, and sleep mode.
• Another top contender is the Breville BKE820XL Variable Temperature Kettle. This also features a cordless stainless steel carafe and variable temperature controls, but didn’t quite match up to the Cuisinart in terms of value.

The Details

Already staples of European homes, electric kettles are slowly gaining popularity in the U.S. Although mostly sought after by tea and coffee aficionados concerned with the achieving the optimal water temperature when brewing their beverage of choice, electric kettles are also prized by office workers and college students for efficiently boiling water for oatmeal and other packaged food.

The Cuisinart electric kettle is one of the most well-reviewed and popular kettles on the market due to its high-quality and durable construction, myriad of features, and reasonable price. The entire unit is four pounds, including the base and 1.7-liter carafe. The stylish carafe is mostly made of durable brushed stainless steel; only a few pieces, such as the spout, water-level window, and parts of the handle, are made of BPA-free plastic. The corded base is equipped with 1,500 watts of power for quick and efficient heating, and is designed to allow the carafe to swivel 360˚. The carafe itself features a drip-less pour spout with splash guard, removable scale filter, a comfortable, easy-grip handle, and a water-level window, and LED back-lit control buttons located on the handle.

The unit has six preset temperature control buttons ranging in temperature from 160˚F for delicate green and herbal teas to 200˚F for French-press coffee. Special features include an internal “memory” that allows the user to remove the carafe from the base for up to two minutes without shutting off or stopping the brew process, a 30-minute “keep warm” option, and a sleep mode. In addition, the unit maintains boil-dry protection, with the heater automatically shutting off to prevent damage if water is not detected in the carafe. Cuisinart offers a three-year limited warranty on this unit, and will either repair or replace it if defects not consistent with normal wear and tear are discovered.

The Cuisinart CPK-17 Electric Kettle is available from Amazon for around $90.

A Close Contender

While the Cuisinart is our pick for overall durability, features, and price, the Breville BKE280XL is also a very good buy. While more expensive, the Breville is similar in design and construction to the Cuisinart with one significant exception – all control buttons are located on the base, rather than the carafe. Although the Breville holds slightly more water than the Cuisinart, it doesn’t have back-lit buttons, only offers five preset temperatures ranging from 175˚F to 212˚F, and only keeps the water warm for 20 minutes. Furthermore, Breville only offers a one-year limited warranty. However, the Breville offers two water-level windows, a heavier base, and a metal spout.

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Reviewers like stainless steel electric kettles, because plastic kettles can contain bisphenol A (BPA) and the plastic tends to crack over a number of years. Plus, according to Chow.com, plastic pots can imbue your favorite brew with a plasticky taste and aroma. The best electric kettles boil water quickly, last a long time, require little maintenance, and incorporate safety and efficiency features.

Chef’s Choice Cordless Electric Kettle

The Chef’s Choice Cordless Electric Kettle is a well-designed matte stainless-steel kettle is a great choice for tea connoisseurs, as it allows you to choose from a variety of water temperatures. With a two-quart capacity it’s not only the biggest kettle made by the manufacturer, but one of the largest kettles on the market by about a cup. The only potential drawback of this kettle is that can be somewhat complicated to use.

It received an score of A- from Good Housekeeping — reviewers there gave the glass version of this kettle an A+ rating. However, we found many complaints on Amazon, stating that they lid of the glass kettle broke. This stainless steel version of the kettle received an average of 4 out of 5 stars, from 227 Amazon buyers.

The Chef’s Choice Cordless Electric Kettle is available from Amazon for about $40.

The Krups BW500 Electric Kettle

KRUPS has a long-standing reputation of quality and this 1.8 quart cordless electric kettle is one of the most durable on the market. Made of stainless steel, the 3-pound weight may be off-putting to some, but this adds to the sturdiness of the kettle. The 1500 watts heats water quickly and efficiently. There is an automatic shut-off once the water reaches the boiling point.

Most electric kettles have a 1 year limited warranty, but KRUPS offers a 2 year limited warranty. The KRUPS BW500 received an average 4.4 star rating from 14 Amazon customers. It sells for about $60 on Amazon.

Capresso H2O Plus Electric Kettle

The Capresso H2O Plus wins big on style points because it’s sleekly designed out of glass–which lets owners watch water boil, if so moved. Of course, the glass exterior is also prone to breakage.

The Capresso boils water under 5 minutes, shuts off automatically, and has a concealed heating element. As a bonus, the cord retracts into the electric kettle’s base. This kettle also has a slightly smaller six-cup capacity, though whether that’s an upside or downside depends on how many people live in your household and how often you entertain guests.

This kettle received a top rating from Cook’s Illustrated.

The Capresso costs around $49 at Amazon.

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Breville BOV 800XL Smart Convection Toaster Oven

This 1800 watt convection toaster oven by Breville comes highly recommended by professional chefs and home users alike. It features 9 pre-set programs that can be programmed for personal preference and automatically adjusts individual heating elements for consistent cooking. Energy efficient, the convection oven speeds cooking time by 30%. It has the capacity to hold a 13-inch pizza or six slices of toast.

Manufacturer warranties are hard to come by with toaster ovens. Breville says they design their products with durability in mind and that their products can last up to 20 years. The company offers a 1 year replacement warranty.

Over 630 Amazon users have given the Breville an average 4.5 out of 5 stars. The Breville BOV 800XL Smart Convection Toaster Oven is for sale on Amazon for $250.00.

KRUPS BW500 Electric Kettle

KRUPS has a long-standing reputation of quality and this 1.8 quart cordless electric kettle is one of the most durable on the market. Made of stainless steel, the 3-pound weight may be off-putting to some, but this adds to the sturdiness of the kettle. The 1500 watts heats water quickly and efficiently. There is an automatic shut-off once the water reaches the boiling point.

Simple to use, the KRUPS doesn’t feature all the bells and whistles of some other programmable electric kettles, which is why we like it. Simplicity often translates into reliability.

Most electric kettles have a 1 year limited warranty, but KRUPS offers a 2 year limited warranty. The KRUPS BW500 received an average 4.4 star rating from 14 Amazon customers. It sells for about $58 on Amazon.

If you find the design of this electric kettle a bit too utilitarian, you might consider the “Krups BW600 Silver Art Collection Electric Kettle” which features a polished chrome finish.

Zojirushi NS-LAC05 Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker

Zojirushi manufactures some of the most top rated rice cookers on the market. Worth the investment, Zojirushi rice cookers not only stand the test of time, but they produce perfect rice every time. The Zojirushi NS-LAC05 Micom rice cooker features micro-computerized Fuzzy logic technology, menu selection, and an automatic keep warm function. The clear-coated stainless steel exterior is a unique process for rice cookers and makes for a more durable product that is easy to keep clean.

Like most rice cookers, there is a 1 year limited warranty. Out of 298 Amazon reviews, this model boasts an average 4.7 out of 5 stars rating. The Zojirushi NS-LAC05 Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker sells for about $130 on Amazon.

Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker

Cuisinart, a name synonymous with high quality kitchen products, makes this fully automatic and 24-hour programmable coffee maker with a separate hot water system for tea, cocoa, and soup. Though it’s difficult to find an drip coffee maker without plastic parts, the Cuisinart is made with all BPA-free materials. Included is a charcoal water filter to remove chlorine and other bad tastes from the water, as well as a gold tone filter for brewing.

Cuisinart offers a 3 year limited warranty, typical for high-end coffee makers. Over 160 Amazon reviewers have given this coffeemaker and average 4.3 out of 5 stars. The Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker sells for about $88 on Amazon.

Another durable small kitchen appliance that is still made in the USA is a Bunn coffeemaker. The Bunn products are high quality and are well reviewed by users, however the design of these systems keeps the reservoir of hot water heated at all times which translates to high energy costs. There is a vacation switch that can turn off the tank heater, but it will take roughly 15 minutes to heat back up in order to make coffee. While we can’t recommend the Bunn as the most efficient option on a daily basis, it might be a consideration for those who entertain a lot. Since it can brew a cup of coffee in about 3 minutes, it would be great for parties.

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